Since sitting on my back porch with a cigar and a cup of coffee or sipping on some scotch is such an integral part of who I am and what I do to unwind up here on our little half-acre on the hill. I’ve decided to add a page dedicated to the cigars I love so much. This page is a journal of the my cigars. This page is not in anyway meant to be an endorsement or encouragement for anyone else to use tobacco products of any sort. I am fully aware of the potential problems tobacco can cause. This is a choice, my choice, for the good or bad of it. Now, having said all that, if you happen to try one of the cigars I talk about here please leave me a note. I’d love to hear to hear your thoughts.
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On The Back Porch With A Cigar
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I added several cigars all at one time. These are the most recent reviews.
Excalibur No 1 Maduro
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Wicked Indie Toro
Smoking Gurkha cigars was a new adventure for me. One cigar in particular caught my attention and that was the Wicked Indie Toro. I’m not sure what it was about the cigar, I almost seemed drawn to it. I can only think of one or two other cigars that seemed to catch my attention like this one and those ended becoming mainstays of my humidor. This one may be on the same path.
The Wicked Indie Toro is a 6.00 inch long cigar with a 54 ring. To my eye, it’s a good looking cigar with almost a rustic, old world appearance. The wrapper is a dark, natural brown (Colorado) Nicaraguan grown Habano leaf with a good many veins. The binder and aged filler are also both Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar is well constructed. There is an earthy quality to its flavor with hints of cedar and spices, maybe mace or nutmeg. The draw was easy and the burn very even considering the veins in the wrapper. These cigars sell in the $5.00 to $6.50 range and you can get them in boxes of 50. There aren’t a lot of cigars that earn a place in my humidor after I’ve tried just one, but I’ll be on the lookout for these and I will have some readily on hand.
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Excalibur No. 1 Maduro
One of my favorite, every day cigars is the JR Alternative Excalibur No 1 Maduro. At a little more than have the price of the actual Excalibur it is very budget friendly. I finally got around to getting a 5-pack of the real Excalibur No 1 Maduro cigars and I was not disappointed at all. Not taking anything away from the JR Alternative which is a good cigar in its own right, the Excalibur by Hoyo De Monterey is noticeably better cigar and a real treat to smoke.
The Excalibur No. 1 Maduro by Hoyo De Monterey is one of the bigger cigars in my humidor. It is a 7.25 inch Churchill (or Presidente) with a 54 band. The cigar is exceptionally constructed with a wrapper that is a beautiful deep, dark brown Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro. The binder is also Connecticut Broadleaf and the filler is a blend of Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan long leaf. The flavor starts out with cream and smooth hints of chocolate with some very nice underpinnings of spices. To my taste, I want to say nutmeg which quite nice complements the chocolate. The flavor stays smooth and tantalizing for the entire smoke. The draw is smooth and the burn is even and long. This is a cigar with which you can kick back and relax. The price on these cigars is very reasonable in the $6.00 to $9.00 range depending on vendor and quantity ordered. The darlings had no trouble quickly finding a home in my humidor.
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Subculture Acid Toast Toro
I still can’t say I’m a fan of flavored cigars. The Acid Toast is at least less offensive to my taste than other flavored cigars I’ve tried. Once I got past the initial overpowering flavor when I went to light this one up, the flavor backed off significantly allowing to smoke the cigar. There have been others I couldn’t get halfway through before I just had to put it out. At least the Toast is more like smoking a cigar as opposed to sucking in penny candy.
The Subculture Acid Toast Toro is a standard size and shaped Toro, being 6.00 inches long with a 50 band. The wrapper is very nice dark brown Maduro Nicaraguan grown Connecticut Broadleaf. Both the binder and filler are also Nicaraguan tobaccos. This is another flavor infused cigar from Drew Estates. Getting by the overpowering sweet taste when I first went to light it was the toughest part for me. A great deal of the sickie sweet flavor subsides quickly and I could almost taste what I consider to be a real cigar with hints of cinnamon and cedar. The draw was easy and the burn was even. A quick check of the market has these cigars priced in the $6.00 to $8.00 range. If you’re a fan of flavor infused cigars you might really enjoy this one. As for me, this will mostly likely have been the last one I’ll smoke.
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Montecristo White Rothschilde
This was easily one of the mildest cigars I’ve smoked so far. In fact, it was so mild as to almost be devoid of any flavor whatsoever. Personally, I much prefer a robust cigar that makes a statement. It wasn’t necessarily a bad cigar, but it was a bit innocuous. I guess if you are new to cigar smoking this might be a good one with which to start, but for a seasoned cigar smoker I have to ask, what’s the point?
The Montecristo White Rothchilde is a robusto sized 5.00 inch long cigar with a 52 band. It’s a well constructed cigar with a light blond Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Shade tobacco wrapper. The binder is Nicaraguan and the filler is a long leaf blend of tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. This is an incredibly mild cigar with only the slightest hint of an earthy flavor. In fact, to my taste, it’s almost like smoking air. Having said that, the draw is easy and the burn is even over the length of the cigar. I can see how someone new to smoking cigars could really enjoy one of these. It certainly would not be a bad experience. The cigar isn’t inexpensive either with its price over $10.00. This one was just too mild for my liking so it’s not likely to ever garner a place in my humidor.
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Acid Blue Kuba Grande
I sure didn’t know the sampler I was getting had nothing but flavor infused cigars. I’m definitely not a fan of this type of cigar. Rather just getting rid of the cigars out of hand, I decided that to be fair I would at least try one of each. They turned out to be the toughest cigars I’ve ever smoked. I even put one out before I finished I disliked it that much.
The Acid Blue Kuba Grande is a Toro Gordo that is 6.00 inches long with a 60 ring. It has a nice medium brown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. The binder and the long leaf filler are both Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar is well constructed. When I pulled it out to catch its initial aroma the first thing that came to my mind was cheap, dime store perfume. I was a bit hesitant to put in my mouth to light it, but I did. The initial taste was not pleasant to me. Whatever the infused flavor was I could not tell, but about half through the cigar I started to get a hint of spice, most likely from the Sumatra wrapper. The draw was okay and the burn was fairly even. My jaw hit the ground when I saw these cigars run in the $10.00 plus range. I am not a fan of flavor induced cigars, but this one was not the worst I’ve had either. Please bear in mind, this is my opinion about the cigar and not the people who enjoy these cigars. I am well aware there are a wide variety of taste preferences in the world.
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Romeo Y Julieta Crafted by A.J. Fernandez
This is a very respectable toro that two big names came together to craft. It’s a nice, easy to smoke medium-bodied cigar with a nice mix of flavor. It’s a slow and relaxing smoke too. When you’re not in the mood for a full-bodied cigar this is definitely one to consider. It is a real plus to anyone’s humidor.
The Romeo Y Julieta Crafted by A.J. Fernandez is a typical toro being 6.00 inches long with a 52 ring. The cigar is put together well with a medium dark brown Habana 2000 wrapper. The binder and long leaf filler are both proprietary aged Nicaraguan tobaccos. The flavor is a smooth mix of light creamy chocolate with some underpinnings of cedar by my tastes. There is a hint of spice too which I attribute to the Habano wrapper. The draw is easy, but the burn is a bit erratic. I had to touch it up once or twice. The stick runs in the $7.00 to $9.00. This is a nice medium bodied cigar that would be a welcome addition to any humidor.
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Boneshaker Full Body Cast – Morning Star
Rarely do I immediately sit up and take notice when I first light up a cigar. The Boneshaker Full Body Cast may be the exception to that rule. I was expecting a rich, full flavored cigar when I lit up the Morning Star. What I was not expecting was the intense, powerful, and explosive flavor that I got immediately when it lit it up. There was absolutely nothing harsh or biting about this cigar either. The best way to put this cigar into perspective is to say it’s the regular Boneshaker line on steroids.
The Boneshaker Full Body Cast Morning Star is one heck of a lot of cigar packed into a 5.00 inch robusto with a 56 band. It has a deep, dark, oily brown Nicaraguan grown Sumatra Maduro wrapper. The binder is a Nicaraguan grown Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco and the filler is an aged blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos. There is no waiting for a flavor build up with this cigar. It comes out bold and fast right when you light it up. Right out of the gate you get an explosion of chocolate and pepper and it doesn’t let up. After you get by the initial powerful flavors you find some very nice underpinnings of rich coffee and, I want to say, cedar. The draw is smooth, but the burn is just slightly erratic. The cigar is very reasonably priced between $3.50 and $4.50. This cigar also paired up nicely and held its own while I was enjoying some good scotch. The only knock I have on the Morning Star is that 5.00 inches isn’t nearly enough length to truly this cigar.
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Alec Bradley Connecticut Toro
For the most part my cigar preferences lie in the direction of a full bodied cigar. Every once and again I run into a medium bodied cigar that really impressed me. That is the case with the Alec Bradley Connecticut Toro. I really have to tip my hat to this cigar for a lovely bouquet of flavor without going over the top or getting washed out. While this cigar certainly does not have the dramatic explosion of flavor you get in a full bodied cigar they did a great job of blending the tobaccos to make a very enjoyable cigar.
The Alec Bradley Connecticut Toro is pretty standard toro being 6.00 inch long with a 50 band. The cigar is well put together with a lovely natural brown, Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Shade tobacco. The binder is Honduran and the long leaf filler is a blend of tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua. The flavor of this cigar is rather dynamic. It starts creamy and smooth with just a hint of earthy and wood. To me it seemed like oak. As I smoked the cigar the oak wood flavor really stepped to the forefront with just and underpinning of pepper behind it. By the time I finished the cigar the spice had moved to the forefront, but the creamy and oaky hints never left either. Equally as important was the pepper did not overpower the other flavors which resulted in a very elegant overall balance of flavor. The draw was smooth and the burn was even. In my mind, this cigar was perfectly matched to my mid morning coffee. The cigar runs in the $6.50 to $8.00 price range. This cigar has given me reason to consider adding a medium bodied cigar to my otherwise full bodied humidor.
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El Centurion Toro – My Father Cigars
Every now and again I run into a cigar that is highly acclaimed by the critics and I find myself asking what in the heck were these guys talking about. That is the case with this El Centurion Toro. I kept waiting for a WOW factor to kick in while I was smoking it and, sadly, I was left waiting at the station. It wasn’t a bad cigar, but there was really nothing that stood out about it.
The El Centurion Toro (My Father Cigars) is a 6.125 inch Toro with a 52 band. The wrapper is a medium dark brown Criollo 98 and for my eye it could have been wrapped just a bit more cleanly. The binder is a Nicaraguan and the filler is a blend of Criollo 98 and 99 and Santi Spiritus. This was easily one of the most heavily leather flavored cigars I’ve ever smoked. There was just a hint of spice underneath everything too. The draw was smooth and the burn was even. I’ll have to admit for all of the accolades given this cigar, I was less than impressed. The price for the cigar runs from $7.00 to $8.50 depending on vendor and quantity purchased. I guess this isn’t really a bad cigar, but I sure didn’t find anything about it to buy more or recommend it.
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Uncharted Gordo
This is one big cigar. In fact, if it hadn’t come in a sampler I would have never even considered trying one. I really didn’t have any expectations for it which was probably a good thing. It’s a good medium bodied cigar, but not exactly along my line of preferences. I do see how anyone who likes larger medium body cigars would enjoy this particular cigar
The Uncharted Gordo is one hefty stick measuring 6.00 inches long with every bit of a 60 band. It has a solid construction and an attractive medium brown Ecuadorian Ligera Habano wrapper. The binder is Mexican San Andres leaf and the filler is a blend of Nicaraguan and Jamastron long leaf. The flavor is a nice blend of cedar and coffee with the wrapper adding just the slightest hint of spice. This cigar is a slow burner lasting well over an hour. The draw was smooth while the burn was a bit erratic to start, but straightened itself out bout at the halfway point. I should also note that this cigar is an A.J. Fernandez creation. The price range is huge on this thing running anywhere from $3.00 to $8.00. This was a good cigar just not my style.
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Cohiba Black Corona
I’d been saving this one for a peaceful afternoon in the shade on the back porch. I had to enjoy it with some good scotch too. That’s what summer break is all about, isn’t it? I took my sweet old time enjoying this cigar. It was perfect after a busy morning.
The Cohiba Black Corona is a beautiful 5.50 inch long cigar with a 42 band. It is exquisitely constructed with a deep, dark, oily, US Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro Maduro wrapper. The binder is Piloto from the Dominican Republic and the filler is a blend of aged Piloto and Mexican tobaccos. The unlit cigar has the aroma of rich leather. The cigar has a robust flavor with string coffee underpinnings that gradually turns to espresso. Everything about this cigar is smooth. The draw is easy and the burn is even. The cigar held its own while I was sipping on some 14 year single malt scotch. This cigar is pricy running anywhere from $9.50 to $17.00. Even at the high end, this cigar is well work the price. I will definitely have to find the money to add some of these to my humidor.
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La Imperiosa Magicos
I’m back into my Father’s Day sampler and this time the smallest cigar in the lot, La Imperiosa Magicos. What this little baby lacked in stature it more than made up for in great flavor. After reading the reviews for it, after I had smoked the cigar, I do believe they may have understated how good this cigar really is. I certainly enjoyed it.
La Imperiosa Magicos is a 4.50 inch robusto with a 52 band. Don’t be fooled by its size. The wrapper is a deep, dark, rich, oily brown Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro leaf. The binder and filler are both tobaccos from Nicaragua. The flavor is smooth with earthy and woody underpinnings. It actually reminded of cherry wood. The draw is smooth and the burn is even. This is a dandy little robusto that will definitely leave a lasting impression. The cigar runs in the $8.00 to $9.00 range which may seem high for a robusto, but the smoke is definitely worth it.
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La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 5
This was another dark, rich, very flavorful cigar from my Father’s Day sampler. So far, I have not been disappointed with any of the cigars in this sampler and this one was another hit. I found this particular cigar to be one of the smoother smokes in the package with both a very pleasing taste and aroma.
The La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 5 is a 5.50 inch long robusto with a 54 band. The cigar has a bit of an old world look with its rough appearance but the construction is quite sound. They flavors are a very smooth and creamy mix hinting of coffee and wood with a underpinning of spice in the last two-thirds of the cigar. The draw was okay, but could have been easier. The burn was just a tad erratic, but certainly not a problem. The burn is also slow making this a very enjoyable cigar. The stick runs in the $6.50 to $9.00 price range depending on vendor and quantity purchased. This is a cigar that will get definite consideration as an addition to my humidor.
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H Upmann by A.J. Fernandez Toro
With not much to do on a rainy afternoon, watching the rain fall while enjoying a cigar from a friend is about as good as it gets. When two powerhouses team up it’s a safe bet you have a winner and that is definitely the case with H. Upmann and A.J. Fernandez. In this case, they ended up with a medium flavored beauty with just enough snap to it to make for a wonderful break in dreary day.
The H. Upmann by A.J. Fernandez Toro is a 6.00 inch cigar with a 54 band. It’s a well built cigar with a beautiful brown Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf wrapper. The binder is Nicaraguan tobacco and the filler is a very nice blend of Nicaraguan long leaf. The flavor is a well matched balance of coffee and hazelnut that develops a nice little snap of spice after the first third of the cigar. This medium flavored cigar is designed for a slow leisurely smoke with a smooth draw and an even burn. The cigar runs anywhere from $7.00 to $9.00 a stick depending on vendor and quantity purchased. If you are inclined toward a medium bodied cigar, this is one you should check out.
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Witchdoktor Toro
I got back into my Father’s sampler and this time I pulled out the Witchdoktor Toro. I had seen the label before, but let the name get in the way of me trying them before. That was a mistake. This dark, slow burning beauty proved itself to be a wonderful cigar, just perfect for relaxing on the back porch on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
The Witchdoktor line of cigars is a house exclusive cigar crafted for JR Cigars by A.J. Fernandez. The Toro, as you might expect, is a 6-inch long box-pressed cigar with a 50 band. The cigar is impeccably constructed with a deep, rich, dark brown Ecuadorian Oscuro Sumatra wrapper. Both the binder and the filler are Nicaraguan tobaccos with the filler being a blend of aged long leaf. From when you first light it up until the very end of the cigar, you’ll enjoy the robust flavor with hints of coffee and chocolate. The draw is smooth and the burn is slow and even. You can only get this cigar from JR Cigars and they run in the $7.00 ballpark. The likelihood is very good that these will find their way into my humidor somewhere down the road.
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Swag Black Lavish
I got to enjoy another one of the cigars from my Father’s Day sampler. Honestly, I had never heard of Swag Black before. I couldn’t find a whole of reviews for the cigar either. As such, I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but the cigar was a very nice smoke. It was a pleasant and partly unexpected surprise.
The Swag Black Lavish is 5.00 inch long robusto with a 54 band. It’s a nicely constructed medium to full flavor cigar that is unusually smooth. The wrapper is a nice medium brown Dominican Habano leaf. The binder and the long leaf filler are also both Dominican tobaccos. There is a nice woody flavor with a hint of spice when you first light up the cigar. As you smoke it though, you find yourself tasting some chocolate in the mix. The draw is easy and the burn is even. The cigar is reasonably priced in the $7.00 to $8.00 range. This is an interesting cigar, definitely worth revisiting.
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Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Robusto
It was a quiet afternoon and time for me to hide on my back porch and relax with another cigar from my Father’s Day sampler. After a minute or two of trying to decide I ended up grabbing the Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Robusto. The reviews on the cigar had been good, but the cigar I had, did not live up to its billing.
The Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Robusto, apart from being box-pressed, is a typical 5.00 inch long robusto with a 50 ring. The wrapper is a rich brown Ecuador Habano. The binder and long leaf filler are both Nicaraguan tobaccos. The flavor had a nice coffee underpinning with just a hint of spice, probably attributable to the Habano wrapper. The draw was tight, but the burn was even. For my tastes, this cigar did not live up to its billing either. The cigar is pricey too, running from $9.00 to $11.00 depending on vendor and quantity purchased. All in all, this is a good cigar, but certainly not great. This one is definitely not a candidate for my humidor.
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Black Abyss Connecticut Cerberus
I don’t remember which sampler in which I picked up this hefty cigar, but it was one of the less recent ones. The first one I smoked wasn’t bad but I felt something was missing so I let the second sit in my humidor for a couple of weeks. I can now say the second cigar was no different than the first and I was disappointed, not because they we bad, but because nothing stood out about them.
The Black Abyss Connecticut Cerberus is a hefty, oversized Toro at 6.00 inches long with a 60 band. It’s a well constructed medium bodied cigar with a quite nice blond Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf wrapper. The binder is Cuban-seed Criollo 98 grown in Ecuador and the filler is Cuban-seed Viso long leaf also grown in Ecuador. The flavors are so subtle it’s almost impossible to distinguish the underpinnings of coffee and nuts. The draw is smooth and the burn is even. The cigar is in the price range of $4.00 to $6.00 depending on vendor and quantity purchased. What I found most remarkable about this cigar was that it was unremarkable. It’s not a bad cigar, nothing about the cigar stood out to make it rememberable.
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Boneshaker Cigars
The Boneshaker line of cigars has the reputation for bold, full flavored Maduro cigars. I was very excited when I got a sampler with a couple of these in the mix. I even set aside some time so I could just sit back and enjoy the cigar. I was not disappointed either from beginning to end this was a serious cigar.
Boneshaker Maul
The Boneshaker Maul is the line’s Toro being 6.00 inches long with a 56 ring. It is a very well constructed cigar with a deep, dark, rich brown Maduro US Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The binder is Nicaraguan Estelí leaf and the filler is long leaf Nicaraguan tobacco. This cigar has a rich and robust flavor starting with definite hints of coffee that become more towards earthy with just the hint of spice as you smoke the cigar. The draw is smooth and the burn is even down the length of the stick. This cigar was made to be enjoyed with a neat glass of good bourbon or good scotch. I suspect there only may be a few cigars out there that can rival the Boneshaker Maul’s explosion of flavor and even fewer that can match it for price. The best I can tell this cigar runs in the $4.00 to $6.00 range depending on quantity and vendor. These will become a mainstay in my humidor.
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Jericho Hill OBS Robusto
I got a very nice 12-cigar sampler for Father’s Day. The cigars were from different producers, but all of them were full flavored Maduros. I only recognized one of the cigars so I was very excited to expand my cigar smoking boundaries. After s few morning chores I decided to take a break so I grabbed the Jericho Hill OBS Robusto.
The Jericho Hill OBS Robusto is a lovely little 4.75 inch cigar with a 52 band. This little box-pressed beauty is very nicely constructed and wrapped in a very dark brown Mexican San Andres Maduro leaf. The binder and filler are both Nicaraguan tobaccos. The flavor is very smooth and earthy to start with and it slowly picks up a wonderful hint of spice as you smoke it. The draw is easy and the burn is even. I found prices for it ranged between $7.50 and $9.00 depending on the vendor and quantity purchased. It was a very fine quick smoke and I would not be averse to adding it to my humidor at some point.
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Camacho Triple Maduro Cigars
If you are a fan of Maduro cigars and you haven’t gotten you hands on any one of the four Camacho Triple Maduro cigars, you need to do it now. Granted full flavored, hearty Maduros are not everyone’s cup of tea, but if they are Camacho has come up with a “can’t miss” smoke. I was not surprised when I found reviews of the Triple Maduro claiming it was one of the best Maduro cigars on the market. I had bought a 5-pack some time not too long ago and I was so impressed that I made it a point to save one just to smoke on Father’s Day.
The Camacho Triple Maduro 60/6
The Triple Maduro 60/6 is Camacho’s Toro in the line. The cigar is the classic 6.00 inches in length, but it has an oversized 60 band. The construction is impeccable with its deep, dark, rich brown wrapper from Honduras. The binder and filler are also Honduran Maduro leaf tobaccos. The flavor is bold with a definite hint of dark chocolate and that combines with a wonderfully earthy bouquet as you smoke the cigar. The draw is smooth and the burn is slow and even making for an absolutely wonderful prolonged cigar smoking experience. The cigar also pairs very well with a glass top shelf single malt scotch. This cigar is on the higher end of the price scale running between $10.50 and 12.50 each depending on the vendor and quantity purchased. I always try to keep a few of these in my humidor for special occasions.
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Oliva Seriee O Robusto Maduro
The Oliva Seriee O Robusto Maduro is another cigar I picked up in a sampler along the way and it proved to be the highlight of the sampler. It was actually a little deceiving because of its small size, but not only did it live up to its billing as medium to full flavored cigar, it exceeded that in my mind.
The Oliva Seriee O Robusto Maduro is a tiny little powerhouse at only 5.00 inches long with a 50 band. The wrapper is a deep, rich brown Habano-seed leaf while the wrapper is Nicaraguan and the filler is a proprietary blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar is exceptionally well constructed with a wonderfully robust flavor. The flavor is very earthy with a nice nutty mix. The Habano wrapper adds a nice hint of spice to the flavor too. The draw is nice and the burn is very even. My preferences have always leaned toward a Toro sized cigar or larger, but this baby has me rethinking that idea. This cigar seems to run in the $5.00 to $7.00 range depending on quantity and vendor, but given how much I enjoyed the cigar I would have to say it’s well worth the price.
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Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Robusto
My luck with Rocky Patel cigars has been hit or miss at best. Lately, it seems it’s been more miss than anything else. When another Rocky Patel cigar showed up in a recent sampler I can’t say I was overly excited. Adding to my skepticism is the fact that my taste lean to toward full bodied cigars and Vintage 1999 is billed as mellow to medium. In fact, I’ve only run across one mellow to medium cigar I’ve considered good enough to put in my humidor. Now, I have two because this cigar really impressed me.
The Rocky Patel 1999 Vintage Connecticut Robusto is 5.5 inch cigar with a 50 band. The wrapper a lovely light brown Connecticut Shade tobacco harvested in 1999. The binder is Nicaraguan and the filler is a long leaf blend of tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic that has been aged for seven years. The flavor is incredibly smooth with gentle hint of roasted nuts to bring it alive. The draw and the burn are both exceptional. The cigar does a great job of holding its ash too. This cigar can be a little on the pricey side running anywhere from $8.50 to $12.00 depending on vendor and quantity. I can’t justify adding a box of 20 to my humidor, but a 5-pack is most certainly a real possibility.
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La Finca Ammo Box 60
With the school year winding down, the afternoons are made for sitting in the back porch with a cigar. I’ve still got a couple of different samplers I’m working through so the other afternoon I grabbed a La Finca Ammo Box 60. The cigar got its name because the maker packages the cigars in a plastic, military style ammo box that holds 60 cigars. I did not by 60 cigars. I got 5 cigars in a sampler pack. It’s not all that likely I’ll ever get any more once these are done.
The La Finca Ammo Box 60 is a medium flavored 6 inch Toro with a 50 ring. The construction is alright and pretty consistent from cigar to cigar. The wrapper is a Nicaraguan Habano just a bit darker than a traditional EMS wrapper. The binder and filler are both Nicaraguan tobaccos too. The draw and the burn were both pretty average and did not present any problems. This cigar loses big points in flavor or lack of flavor. The usual snap of a good Habano wrapper is missing. The cigar does develop an earthy almost leathery flavor to it about half way down the burn, but it was just slightly noticeable. Actually for the price range, $1.50 to $2.50, the cigar is okay. It certainly won’t hold up with a glass of good scotch. The few I have left are destined for my fishing cigars.
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Casa De Garcia Nicaragua Robusto
I did it again. I picked up another five cigar sampler only this time it had cigars of which I had no knowledge. I didn’t even recognize the names. Okay, I’ve always game for something new. The first cigar of the group I tried was a Casa De Garcia Nicaragua Robusto. It didn’t take me too long to decide this was a cigar destined to be put with the cigars I take smoke while I’m fishing and not good enough with which to relax and enjoy on the back porch.
The Casa De Garcia Nicaragua Robusto, as the name implies, is a 4.75 inch long robusto with a 50 ring. The construction was firm, but rough. The Nicaraguan Habano wrapper was a medium brown, but it was dry and brittle. The wrapper remained dry even after letting the cigar condition up in a humidor. The binder is Nicaraguan Connecticut Broadleaf and the filler is a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos. There was just the hint of spice in the flavor, mostly likely attributable to the Habano wrapper, but otherwise the cigar was bland. The draw was okay and the burn was fairly even. Depending on quantity and vendor the price for the cigar runs between $1.50 and $3.00. Let’s just say after smoking a couple of these, I’ve had much better $2.00 cigars.
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Rocky Patel “The Edge” Toro Sampler
A lazy afternoon, a soft rain falling, and cigar to enjoy, life doesn’t get much better than that. Not too long ago I was given a 4-pack sampler of Rocky Patel “The Edge” Toro cigars. I had recently tried a few different Rocky Patel Robustos and ended up with mixed feelings about the brand so I was a bit skeptical about what to expect from the new cigars. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement.
The Rocky Patel “The Edge” – Habano Toro
The first cigar I grabbed from the sampler was the The Edge Habano. The cigar was your typical 6.0 inch, 52 band Toro. It was well constructed with a nice dark brown, aged, natural colored Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. The binder was also Nicaraguan tobacco. The filler was an aged blend also from Nicaragua, specifically from Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa. For a medium bodied cigar, the flavor was a bouquet of earthy with a hint of cedar and a snap of spice typical of a Habano wrapper. The draw was smooth and easy. The burn was exceptionally consistent down the entire cigar. Depending on the quantity and vendor, this is a $6.00 to $8.00 cigar. While I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar, it won’t every make it into humidor as a mainstay, but a 5-pack every now and again wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Rocky Patel “The Edge” – Corojo Toro
The Rocky Patel The Edge Corojo is a classical Toro, 6-inches long with a 52 band. The cigar is well put together with a very eye pleasing Honduran Corojo Leaf Maduro wrapper. The binder is Nicaraguan and the filler is a nice blend of Central American tobaccos with long leaf Ligero in the mix. The flavor has a nice coffee underpinning with just enough pepper and spice to give the cigar a nice snap. The draw was smooth, but the burn was a little bit erratic on the one I smoked. My ride with Rocky Patel cigars has been a little up and down, but this one was one of their better cigars.
Rocky Patel “The Edge” Sumatra Toro
The Rocky Patel “The Edge” Sumatra is a 6.00 inch long cigar with a 52 band as you might expect. As with the other “Edge” cigars, the cigar is well constructed. Its Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper is just a shade darker brown than the Corojo making the two cigars virtually indistinguishable. The binder is Nicaraguan tobacco and the filler is a nice blend of long leaf tobaccos including Ligero. This is a very earthy flavored cigar with some nice woody notes and a crisp but not overpowering snap of pepper. The price of the cigar runs anywhere from $5.50 to $7.50 depend on vendor and quantity bought. So far this cigar and “The Edge” line of cigars have proved to be a good, above average cigars.
Rocky Patel The Edge Maduro Toro
This was the last Patel The Edge from the 4-pack sampler I had. I saved in anticipation that it be the best one in the box based on my experience with the other three cigars. I was wrong and subsequently very disappointed in the cigar. It was a good looking cigar, but that’s pretty where it ended. After this cigar and the general hit or miss with other Rocky Patel cigars I’ve smoked over the last few months, I’m not inclined to try any more Rocky Patel cigars for a while save the one I have sitting in my humidor now. My expectations for that cigar are very low.
The Rocky Patel “The Edge” Maduro Toro is a good looking standard size toro being 6.00 inches long with a 52 band. The cigar has a beautiful deep, oily brown Honduran grown Maduro wrapper. The binder is Nicaraguan leaf and the filler is a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The flavor is very good starting with a nice blend of coffee and chocolate followed a gradual building of a peppery snap to complement the other flavors. The draw was a bit tight, but the burn was horrible. I had to either touch it up or relight it multiple times. The price range on this stick is between $6.50 and $8.00. While the flavor was good, it certainly was not outstanding and definitely not good enough for me to want to fight the draw and burn issues. I’m not sure if it’s me or what, but this is yet another Rocky Patel cigar that gets crossed off my list of cigars worth smoking.
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Monte by Montecristo Conde
I got to try another new cigar again Friday afternoon after school. I guess that’s one advatnage of have a couple of samplers in your hunidor. I grabbed a Monte by Montecristo Conde this time. I’ve enjoyed other Montecristo sticks before so I figured this one would be a good choice to wind down on a Friday afternoon. The Monte was okay but I was a little disappointed in the cigar.
The Monte by Montecristo Conde is a 5.50 inch long robusto with a 48 band billed as medium to full bodied. The wrapper is a very nice brown, lighter than Maduro, Ecuadorian Habano. The cigar has an old Cuban style pigtail and boasts a two leaf binder, Dominican Olor and a Nicaraguan Corojo. The Olor with the Habano wrapper adds a nice spicy flavor to the smoke while the Corojo give the cigar a pleasant aroma. The filler is a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos. The construction was firm and tight to which I attributed the less than easy draw. The burn was erratic too, especially during the last third of the cigar. While I enjoyed the cigar, it was like smoking a watered down Maduro. With the price of this stick running in the $9.00 to $10.00 range and nothing to make it stand out compared to other cigars already in my humidor, I won’t even consider adding this one to my collection.
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Maria Mancini Robusto Larga
I got home from this afternoon and hoped to get put to split some more firewood, but Mother Nature had other ideas. It had been raining on and off all day and that kept up through the afternoon with 20 of 15 minute downpours. What else was I to do except sit under the overhang on my back porch with a cigar. Instead of my usual smoke I grabbed a new cigar, a Maria Mancini Robusto Larga.
The Maria Mancini Robusto Larga is standard size 6 inch, 50 ring Toro. It is also box pressed. The wrapper is slightly lighter than a Maduro, but still a very nice a dark brown H2000, which is a seed cross between a traditional Habano leaf and Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco. The binder is from Honduras and the filler is Nicaraguan tobacco. It was a faster smoke than I usually have, but still quite enjoyable. It was a nice mix of peppery and earthy flavors that really stepped up after the midway point in the cigar. The draw was easy and smooth, but the burn was erratic. I had to touch it up a couple of times. With a little research I found that the erratic burn is a characteristic of the H2000 wrapper. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the smoke. It held up very well with some nice Canadian rye I happened to be sipping along with the cigar. With a little checking I found the cigar was very nicely priced between $3.00 and $5.00 depending quantity and supplier. I may have to think on it a little more, but I do believe this cigar would be a nice addition to my humidor.
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H. Upmann 1844 Cabinet Selección Robusto
I got another sampler of full bodied Maduro cigars this week. As a kicker, I added a sampler four-pack of robustos from the Dominican Republic. After splitting some firewood after school, I found I still had some time before dinner so I figured I’d give one of the robustos a try. After looking them over, I decided to try the H. Upmann 1844 Cabinet Selección. I had never tried one before and it was the lightest of the four in the pack.
The 1844 Cabinet Selección is a typical shaped 5 inch, 52 band robusto. The wrapper is a natural, light brown Ecuadorian Connecticut Broadleaf. The binder is from the Dominican Republic and the filler, the best of my research ability, is a blend of Dominican Republic, Nicaraguan, and Brazilian tobaccos. The flavor was creamy and earthy and actually quite pleasant for a before dinner smoke. The draw was easy and even through the entire cigar. The burn was exceptionally smooth and the stick held its ash beautifully. I doubt this cigar would go well with a good scotch, but with a less bodied drink I suspect it will do quite well. I found this cigar listing from $4.00 to $7.00, but I really had to dig to find a website from which these cigars could be ordered. I probably will not add these cigars to my humidor, but I would happily sit down and enjoy another one should I be afforded the opportunity.
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A Rocky Patel Robusto Sampler
I just recently order a nice sampler of Rocky Patel cigars. While, the cigars were bill as medium bodied cigars the collection intrigued me and the price was right. The sampler consisted of four cigars each of five different robustos. A robusto is a little bit smaller cigar than I usually prefer, but I’m always looking to expand my horizons and try new and different cigars. Since there are five different cigars it may take me a little time to work my way through each cigar, but I’m looking forward to it.
The Rocky Patel Ice Robusto
The Ice Robusto was the first cigar of the group I tried. I was pleasantly surprised as the cigar is only a medium body cigar. The cigar was very well constructed. I was expecting a much milder smoke that I usually enjoy and it was, but even being milder the flavor was exceptionally good. Like most robustos the Ice is a 5.5 inch long cigar with a 50 band. The wrapper is a very nice medium brown Habano and the binder and filler tobaccos are both Nicaraguan in origin. The flavor started off light and earthy and slowly turned into a nice woody flavor with just a hint of spice to it. The draw was smooth and the burn was even. It was easy to understand way the cigar had some many great reviews. The cigar runs in the $5.50 to $7.50 range depending on where and the quantity you buy. While I thoroughly enjoyed the cigar I don’t see myself adding it on a permanent basis to my humidor.
Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Robusto
After being somewhat disappointed with the Rocky Patel Ice Robusto even though it was an enjoyable smoke, the next cigar I tried from the sampler was the Vintage 1992 Robusto. The Vintage 1992 was a far superior cigar. Like most robustos the Vintage 1992 is 5.5 inches long with a 50 ring. The cigar is also box pressed. The wrapper is a rich brown aged ‘92 Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf. The binder is from Honduras and the filler is a blend of 5-year aged Nicaraguan and Dominican Republic tobaccos. The cigar is medium bodied, but bordering on full body. The flavor is rich starting off with a hint of coffee and then mellowing into a more earthy flavor as the cigar burns down. The draw is smooth and easy. The burn is even. I thoroughly enjoyed this smoke and it stood up well with a glass of good scotch. While I may not consider adding it to my humidor, I will definitely have to try some of its larger brothers. If you like the size of a robusto, this is definitely one to consider. The cigar runs in the $8.00 to $10.00 range, but it is well worth the price.
The Rocky Patel Fire Robusto
To go with the Ice Robusto Rocky Patel has the Fire Robusto. Given the reviews I had read about the Fire Robusto I wasn’t that impressed. The cigar was not bad, but it sure didn’t live up to its billing. Even after smoking a couple of them, I find myself wondering what was particularly special about this cigar.
The Rocky Patel Fire Robusto is a classic 5.5 inch cigar with a 50 band. The cigar is billed as a full bodied cigar Maduro, but to my taste it just barely crosses over from medium bodied. The wrapper is a brown Ecuadorian Habano leaf, lighter than most Maduro wrappers to which I have grown accustomed. The binder is Nicaraguan tobacco and the filler is a blend of Honduran, Mexican, and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The draw is easy enough and the stick burns pretty evenly. The cigar has a subdued earthy and maybe some subtle leather flavor with a hint of pepper to it. Like the Ice Robusto, the Fire Robusto is modestly priced in the $4.00 to $5.00 range. However, while I it said before that the cigar was not a bad cigar,
Rocky Patel Sun Grown Robusto
Having had my faith somewhat renewed in Rocky Patel cigars after the Vintage 1992 and Vintage 1999 robustos, I decided it was time to get back to trying my original Rocky Patel Robusto sampler. This time it was the Sun Grown Robusto. I choose it because its appearance struck as to let me think it had potential as an after dinner cigar. It’s billed as a full flavor cigar but it didn’t have a wrapper as dark as my regular Maduros. I must admit that once again I was very pleasantly surprised as it proved to be a very nice after dinner cigar choice.
The Rocky Patel Sun Grown Robusto is your typical 5.5 inch Robusto with a 50 band. It’s a very well constructed cigar with a rich brown Ecuador Sumatra wrapper. The binder is a Nicaraguan tobacco and the filler is a blend of tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. This was easily the creamiest full flavored cigar I’ve ever tried. I want to say there is a very light coffee flavor with just the slightest hint of spice. The draw was very good and the burn very even. If I had to use one word to describe this cigar it would be elegant. This is an outstanding after dinner cigar. The price of this stick runs from around $6.50 to $8.00 depending on vendor and quantity. This is a cigar I will give serious consideration to as an addition to my humidor.
One more to go…
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Carrillo Maduro Toro Sampler
This year for my birthday I treated myself to a five cigar sampler of Carrillo Maduro Toros. I had never tried a Carrillo cigar before but the sampler was on sale and I’m always on the lookout for new cigars, especially Maduros. I finally got around to lighting up one of the five cigars on a quiet Sunday afternoon and I was very impressed and now look forward to trying the others.
E.P. Carrillo Core Plus Club 52
This was the first of the five cigars in the sampler I tried. It was an exceptional good smoke. The Club 52 is a 6 inch Toro with a 52 band. It’s wrapper is a deep, rich chocolate colored Maduro Connecticut Broadleaf. The binder and filler are both fine Nicaraguan tobaccos. Interestingly enough, the cigar is assembled in the Dominican Republic. It’s a full flavored cigar with subtle hints of coffee and chocolate. The draw is smooth and the burn is even. The cigar is considerably more expensive than my ever day sticks, but down the road I may give it some serious consideration as an addition to my humidor. Depending on where it is bought and the quantity bought, the price will range from $7.00 to 9.00 per cigar.
E.P. Carrillo Original Rebel – Rebellious 52
It was a rare day on this Wednesday that I actually left school before the last bell of the day. When I got home I decided to relax with another one of the cigars from my Carrillo Sampler. I grabbed the Rebellious 52 because if it’s old world look. It’s a Toro like the rest of the sampler but it had a twisted pig tail end instead of a clean end that caught my eye. I sat out on the back porch and thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. The Rebellious 52 is 5.50 in cigar with a 52 band. The wrapper is a deep rich coffee colored Maduro Connecticut Broadleaf. The binder is Ecuadorian and the filler is Nicaraguan. The cigar is put together in the Dominican Republic. It is a very easy smoke with extremely rich flavors through the whole cigar. The cigar had a wonderfully earthy flavor to it with even a hint of pepper to my taste. I was particularly impressed with the consistency of flavor through the entire cigar. The draw was smooth and the burn was very even. Since this is a relatively new cigar to the market, having only been introduced to the market in 2016, it took me a bit to find some pricing for the cigar but it seems this cigar runs in the $10 to $12 price range. By my standards that’s a bit pricey, but I would have to say this cigar is definitely worth the price. I may consider adding it to my humidor because I enjoyed it that much.
E.P. Carrillo Dusk – Stout Toro
What better way is there to enjoy a good cigar than sitting on your back porch on a sunny Sunday afternoon? After this Sunday’s lunch I found myself in just that position. I grabbed another cigar from my E.P. Carrillo Sampler and headed to the back porch. This time I picked up the Dusk – Stout Toro. Just like the first two cigars from this sampler, the Stout Toro was a truly wonderful smoke. The Stout Toro is a 6 inch long cigar with a 52 band. The wrapper is a deep, dark chocolate brown Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro. The binder is Ecuadorian and the filler is long leaf Nicaraguan tobacco. This a full flavor, but just short of a full body cigar. This caught me off guard in a most pleasant way. They flavor was a creamy blend of coffee and cedar, I think, with just a hint of pepper. All of which I found quite enjoyable. The draw was easy and smooth. The burn was very even and cigar held its ash very well. This is an excellent $7.00 to $8.00 cigar. Having now tried three different cigars from this sampler, all being excellent, when I decide to add something new to my humidor I will be facing a difficult decision as to which of this sticks to choose.
E.P. Carrillo Cardinal Impact Maduro 54 Toro
What would a day off be with taking a little time to enjoy a cigar? After a couple of hours of splitting firewood that is exactly what I did on my day off this past Wednesday. Lunch was a little ways off so I grabbed the fourth of the five cigars in my Carrillo sampler and took some time for myself in the back porch. This particular cigar was a Cardinal Impact Maduro 54.
I’m going to say this right up front; this was hands down my favorite cigar of the four in the sampler that I’ve tried so far. The Cardinal Impact Maduro 54 is a classically sized and shaped Toro being 6 inches long with a 54 band. The flavor is incredible earthy and rich with just a hint of spice that becomes slightly more pronounced down through the middle of the cigar. The wrapper is a rich, dark brown, almost rustic looking US Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro. The binder is Ecuadorian Sumatra and the filler is Nicaraguan tobacco. The draw was smooth and easy and the burn was flawless. While I was enjoying this cigar with some water the other morning, my experience say this baby will more than hold its own with a glass of the finest scotch. These cigars run in the $7.00 to $9.00 range, but in my opinion are well worth that price. When the time comes to add a new cigar to my humidor, this one will easy be in the top 10 of my list.
E.P. Carrillo Elite Selección Oscuro Especial No. 6 Maduro Toro
After a long day there’s nothing better than enjoying a cigar and sipping some good scotch. There was a meeting after school and there were scattered black thunderheads in the skies. When I got home I grabbed a E.P. Carrillo Elite Selección Oscuro Especial No. 6 Maduro Toro, the last cigar in my Carrillo 5-cigar sampler. Without realizing it, I had saved the best for last.
The Carrillo Oscuro No. 6 Maduro Toro lived up to all of its rave reviews. The cigar is a classic 6-inch, 52 band toro. It has a deep, dark, rich Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper. The binder is from Ecuador and the filler from Nicaragua. It’s a medium bodied cigar pushing the limit of full body. The flavor was awesome. It was incredibly woody and earthy with just enough hint of pepper in it. The draw was very smooth and the burn was consistent and even. The flavor more than held its own with the glass of 14 year old single malt scotch I was also enjoying. I was very surprised at the price of the stick as well, between $7.50 and $9.00. When it comes to add a new toro to my humidor, this baby will definitely be one of the top five to consider.
Just one more quick note in closing. This was easily one of the best samplers I’ve every gotten. A five cigars we wonderful with the last two being my favorites.
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Lucero Churchill
Every once in a while my cigar supplier runs a special on cigars. With my most recent order, the supplier included a 10-pack of Lucero Churchills. A peaceful evening after dinner seemed like the perfect time to give the cigar a try. Typically, I wouldn’t even have looked at these cigars but since they were free I figured I give one a try. It wasn’t up to my usual standards and in many ways it was very disappointing.
The Lucero Churchill is a 7.0 inch Patejo shaped cigar with an advertised 54 band. To me it seemed more like a 50 band. The wrapper is a Nicaraguan Habano EMS that is light to medium brown. The binder and long filler lead are also Nicaraguan in origin. It’s definitely a mild cigar by any standard. To me, the cigar is too loosely packed and soft. The draw is easy, but the burn is quick and erratic. I will not be adding these cigars to my collection despite its reasonable price of around $4.00 a stick. I suspect the ones I have left will end up will end up with me on the river’s edge when I go fishing. Bear in mind friends, I typically do not like mild cigars, but you may. I would suggest if you really do like mild cigars you shy away from these and find a better smoke.
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Romeo Y Julieta 1875 Bully
As a rule, I favor a cigar with a strong rich flavor. I guess it suits my personality. Developing a taste for a full flavor cigar is sort of like developing a taste for scotch,it comes with time. Every once in a while though, I do have like a milder, medium flavor cigar. I really only keep one medium flavor cigar in my humidor, however. That one cigar is the Romeo Y Julieta 1875 Bully. This cigar is also the one I share with friends who prefer a milder smoke when they come to visit. I might add, this point, that this is actually a very popular cigar among cigar smokers everywhere.
The Bully is a 5.0 inch Parejo with a 50 band. The wrapper is a nice milk chocolate colored Java TBN. The wrapper is from the Dominican Republic and the filler is a blend of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Brazil. The cigar has a wonderfully earthy flavor with an incredibly smooth draw. It burns evenly and has a very pleasant aroma. Like all cigars, the price of this one varies by where and how many you buy. Typically, the price runs anywhere from $4.50 to $7.00 for each one.
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CAO Flathead 554 Camshaft
The cigar gods were smiling on me the last time I ordered a box of CAO Flathead Apehanger cigars. I didn’t realize it at the time, but there was a special going on where along with the box of cigars they included a 5-pack of CAO Flathead 554 Camshaft cigars. The Camshaft is a cousin of the Apehanger and another full flavored cigar. There are enough differences between the two cousins for both to warrant a spot in my humidor.
The CAO Flathead 554 Camshaft is a 5.5 inch box pressed Parejo with a 54 band. The rich, dark Maduro Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is quite striking, giving the cigar a beautiful appearance. The binder is Connecticut Habano leaf Ecuador with the filler comprised of a blend of wonderful Nicaraguan tobaccos. To my taste the 554 Camshaft has a slightly bolder flavor than than is it cousin the Apehanger. It’s draw is as smooth as any cigar in my humidor, it burns evenly, and it holds it’s ash nicely. Like it’s cousins it holds its own with a glass of good scotch making it a perfect afternoon cigar when you come home after a long day. For my taste, CAO has another winner with the 554 Camshaft.
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Kentucky Fire Cured – Drew Estates:
Fat Molly and Just A Friend:
It’s not often you run across a cigar or a line of cigars that is so different that their very nature warrants a place in your humidor. For my taste the Kentucky Fired Cured line by Drew Estates falls squarely into that category. The fact that I have two favorites from this line of cigars merits both get included in this write up. I was first introduced to the Fat Molly when a friend gave me one telling me I just had to try it. He told me I would either love it or hate it but there wouldn’t be any in between. As it turned out it was an instant love affair.
Fat Molly is a 5 inch long Robusto with a 56 band. It had a rich brown Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper. The filler is a magnificent blend of Brazil Mata Fina, Nicaraguan, and US tobaccos. The tobaccos are fire cured, as the name suggests, to give the cigar a bold and luxurious aroma and flavor akin to a fine burley pipe tobacco. As a rule the larger band of the Fat Molly would tend to put me off, but not in this case. This cigar has a smooth and easy draw making it a great smoke.
Just A Friend is a 6 inch Toro with a 52 ring. It’s composition is the same as the Fat Molly for all practical purpose. The aroma and flavor are just about as bold as and every bit as satisfying as its sister. I’m not sure if it because of the ring size or the shape but to me Just A Friend is a shade more mellow than the Fat Molly, but not so that you loose the uniqueness of the flavor. Like it’s sister, this cigar also has a smooth and easy draw.
Interestingly enough, I would never classify either of these as an everyday cigar because of their unique flavor. I’ve found I really enjoy one of these delightful cigars on a Sunday afternoon after I’ve done everything I want to do. Both of these cigars pair very well with scotch but I suppose a good Kentucky bourbon might be more fitting. Depending where you get these cigars and how many you buy, they usually run between $5-8.50 each.
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JR Alternates:
Excalibur I Maduro:
In my search for everyday cigars I had tried a number of medium to full flavored cigars. I’m always game to try a new cigar and purely by accident I came across these beauties. It didn’t take long for these cigars to establish themselves as a mainstay of my humidor. A little while after I had found these sticks I came across a video talking about the top ten medium to full flavored cigars by a cigar aficionado that I check in on every once in a while. Much to my surprise the JR Alternate: Excalibur I Maduro was one of his top picks.
The JR Alternate: Excalibur I Maduro is a 7.25 inch, Churchill sized, Parejo with a 54 ring. It’s a medium to full flavor cigar with tobaccos of Nicaraguan origin. It has a rich dark brown Maduro wrapper. It’s a smooth smoking cigar with an easy draw. The cigar easily holds its own with a nice glass of scotch but really shines with a hot cup of rich dark coffee. This is my cigar of choice for sitting on the back porch in the morning and greeting a new day. This is a house brand cigar and only available from JR Cigars just like the Edicion Limitada Laguito I like so much. There is also a JR Alternate; Excalibur I in a lighter brown wrapper but the Maduro is by far the better cigar. This is also a very affordable cigar at less than $3.00 a stick when purchased in bundles of 20.
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JR Edicion Limitada Alternates:
Cohiba Behike Laguito No. 5
If you search around the internet for a real Cohiba Behike Laguito your jaw will drop at the price. I dare say that I will never smoke a real one in my life unless I hit the Powerball Lottery first. JR Cigars, however, makes an alternate that is exceptionally good and they are very affordable. I actually came across this cigar by chance. I got a couple of No. 4’s in a sampler pack. The flavor was good but I didn’t like the size and feel of the cigar. I took a chance and ordered a bundle of the No. 6’s, but still wasn’t satisfied. I figured I give the brand one more shot and try the No. 5’s. They say the third time is the charm and in this case it sure was. This is now one of two cigars I always have on hand as my everyday cigar.
The JR Edicion Limitada Cohiba Behike Laguito No. 5 is a 5.75 inch Parejo with a 54 band. It has a nice full flavored cigar with rich chocolate color Ecuador Sumatra wrapper. The binder and filler tobaccos are both from Nicaragua. It has a very nice draw and it goes well with coffee in the morning or scotch in the afternoon. Since this is a house brand cigar, you can only get them from JR Cigars but they are incredibly affordable at less than $3.00 a stick when purchased in bundles of 20.
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CAO Flathead Apehanger
I’m always on the lookout for a good full flavor cigar, preferably with a nice Maduro wrapper. A while back I took a flyer on a sampler pack that caught my attention. That’s how I came across the CAO Flathead Apehanger. From the first time I lit one up I know I wanted them in my humidor.
The Apehanger is a 5.5 inch Robusto with a 58 ring. There is a slight oily sheen to it’s Habano, dark brown Maduro colored wrapper. The binder is leaf from Brazil and the filler is a blend of tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The draw is smooth and the flavor is fantastic. This cigar will hold its own while I’m enjoying a nice glass of scotch and is certainly a treat all by itself. My favorite time to enjoy one of these cigars is in the late afternoon on a peaceful Saturday or Sunday. Depending on where you purchase the cigar and how many you buy the price can run from $7-10 a stick. If you like a full flavored cigar I highly recommend you give this one a try.
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List of Cigars
- Acid Blue Kuba Grande
- Alec Bradley Connecticut Toro
- Black Abyss Connecticut Cerebus
- Boneshaker Cigars
- The Maul
- Boneshaker Full Body Cast
- Morning Star
- Camacho Triple Maduro
- Triple Maduro 60/6
- Carrillo Maduro Toro Sampler
- E.P. Carrillo Cardinal Impact Maduro 54 Toro
- E.P. Carrillo Core Plus Club 52 Toro
- E.P. Carrillo Dusk – Stout Toro
- E.P. Carrillo Elite Selección Oscuro Especial No. 6 Maduro Toro
- E.P. Carrillo Original Rebel – Rebellious 52 Toro
- CAO Flathead 554 Camshaft
- CAO Flathead Apehanger
- Casa De Garcia Nicaragua Robusto
- Cohiba Black Corona
- El Centurion Toro
- Excalibur No 1 Maduro
- H. Upmann by A.J.Fernandez Toro
- H. Upmann 1844 Cabinet Selección Robusto
- Jericho Hill OBS Robusto
- JR Alternates:
- Excalibur I Maduro
- JR Edicion Limitada Alternates:
- Cohiba Behike Laguito No. 5
- Kentucky Fire Cured – Drew Estates:
- Fat Molly
- Just A Friend
- La Finca Ammo Box 60
- La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 5
- La Imperiosa Magicos
- Lucero Churchill
- Maria Mancini Robusto Larga
- Monte by Montecristo Conde
- Montecristo White Rothschilde
- Oliva Seriee O Robusto
- Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Robusto
- Rocky Patel The Edge Toro Sampler
- Rocky Patel “The Edge” – Habano Toro
- Rocky Patel “The Edge” – Corojo Toro
- Rocky Patel “The Edge” – Sumatra Toro
- Rocky Patel “The Edge” – Maduro Toro
- Rocky Patel Robusto Sampler
- Rocky Patel Fire Robusto
- Rocky Patel Ice Robusto
- Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Robusto
- Rocky Patel Sun Grown Robusto
- Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Robusto
- Romeo Y Julieta 1875 Bully
- Romeo Y Julieta Crafted by A.J. Fernandez
- Subculture Acid Toast Toro
- Swag Black Lavish
- Uncharted Gordo
- Wicked Indie Toro
- Witchdoktor Toro
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